Oscillator and amplifier unit



Jan. 19, 1960 P. J. LARSEN OSCILLATOR AND AMPLIFIER UNIT Filed March 31, 1944 n zv\w\\\, I4 lllll 1 PAUL J. LARSE/V United States ice OSCILLATOR AND ANIPLIFIER UNIT Paul J. Larsen, Cranford, N.J., assignor to the United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy Application March 31, 1944, Serial No. 528,976

6 Claims. (Cl. 102-70.2)

This invention relates generally to radio proximity fuzes, and'more particularly to an improved combination oscillator and amplifier unit, for use in such fuzes.

An important object of the invention is to provide such a combination oscillator and amplifier unit so compact in construction that it may be conveniently mounted in the nose of a shell without occupying undue space and so rugged in character as to be capable of withstanding the severe mechanical stresses to which it is unavoidably subjected in the firing of the projectile, while remaining fully efiective in its operation.

An object related to that first stated is to provide an improved assembly of the character indicated incorporating novel supporting means for the various electronic components, the supporting means being so arranged and secured, and the electronic components being so attached thereto that a structure of great rigidity is provided, the structure, furthermore, being so arranged that all parts are concentrically disposed with respect to the axis of the projectile, the dynamic balance of the projectile there by being maintained.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, taken in conjunction with the appended drawing, wherein like reference characters denominate equivalent parts through the several views.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal diametric sectional view of a fuze construction incorporating the principles of the present invention, fragmentarily showing the adjacent portions of the forward end of a projectile to which the fuze assembly is attached;

Fig. 2 is a cross section taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. l and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 3 is a detailed sectional view of a portion of one of the supporting partitions, fragmentarily showing certain of the operative parts, the wiring connections thereto, and illustrating the manner of supporting the parts and the wiring.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view corresponding to Fig. 2 but showing a somewhat modified construction.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the main supporting assembly employed in the embodiment of Fig. 4.

Referring now to the drawing, reference character '1 designates generally a can or container, which is threaded at 2 for insertion in the nose of a projectile 13, in the conventional manner. The cylindrical rearward extension 4 of the container assembly projects into the projectile while the forward conic or conoidal portion 3, may be shaped conventionally, as shown. The nose section 3 and can section 4 are preferably formed as separately molded plastic units, interfitted with and secured to one another, being shown locked in their relative positioning by means of the set screw 2a. The rearwardly projecting cylindrical portion 4 may house a booster section 14, the firing of which is to be controlled by the fuze assembly (the details on construction of which form no part of the present invention).

The operative parts of the fuze construction consist of oscillator, amplifier and thyratron circuits housed in the nose section 3 (although this projects to a certain extent into the cylindrical portion 4, as best shown in Fig. l). The details of construction of the electrical apparatus form no part of the present invention, and may I correspond to the disclosure of the copending application of Messrs. M. A. Tuve and R. B. Roberts, Serial No. 471,388, filed Jan. 6, 1943, for Fuze.

A transverse partition 15 forms the rear wall of section 3 and cooperates in supporting longitudinal partitions 11, 12 dadoed thereinto, the outer edges of such partitions being similarly fitted in slots in the inner wall of the casing section 3, as indicated at 16. In the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, partition 12 is diametric in its disposition, while partition 11 is radial and perpendicular to partition 12. A cylindrical rod or form 9, also of plastic or other suitable insulating material, is arranged axially of the assembly in the space between the forward edges of partitions 11, 12, and the extreme forward end of the inner chamber of casing section 4, and is preferably grooved to receive the partitions at its rear end and at its forward end fitted into a counterbored continuation 17 of the inner chamber. The form 9 is thus not only rigidly supported in itself, but braces the partition assembly 11, 12, holding it firmly in position. The interfitted parts may also be cemented to one another.

An antenna cap 5 is carried upon the exterior of casing section 3, at its forward end, being secured in position by means of a connecting and supporting post 7, shown as formed integrally with the antenna and having a threaded end projecting axially inwardly and screwed into a tapped metallic bushing 32 molded or otherwise secured in the form 9. The tank coil 10 is wound upon the form 9 and is electrically connected to bushing 32 and thereby to post 7, as shown in Fig. 1.

The vacuum tubes as 20, 21, 22 and the resistors, condensers and choke, as 23, 24, 25, which form operative parts of the electronic system, are individually supported by their connecting wires, which project into metal grommets as 27 in the insulating partitions 11 and 12. The grommets act as connectors for the wires of the interconnected elements, as best shown in Fig. 3. The partitions 11 and 12 form separate compartments for the oscillator, amplifier and thyratron portions, and electrical shielding may be provided by sheathing the partitions with copper or other suitable metal as indicated at 30.

Previous practice in the construction of fuzes of this character has been to arrange the oscillator, amplifier and thyratron portions longitudinally one after another in the fuze assembly, interconnecting them, ordinarily, with connector plugs or the like. In the present arrangement, however, the oscillator, amplifier and thyratron portions are arranged concentrically around the axis of the fuze, separated by the partitions and connected through the grommets, so that special electrical connectors are eliminated, doing away with bulk and weight and providing better electrical connections. Electrical interaction and unwanted coupling between the circuits are prevented by the shielded partitions.

In the modified construction, shown in Figs. 4 and 5, four radially disposed perpendicular partitions 11a, 12a are employed, the details of construction being otherwise similar. This permits further isolation of parts, as may be desirable in view of particular electrical considerations, and/ or where an additional stage of amplification is employed.

It will be apparent that further modifications may be effected, without departure from the spirit of the present invention, within the scope of the subjoind claims.

3 I claim: 7

1. A radio-operable fuze construction comprising a hollow container having a tapering forward portion and adapted to orm the no e ect on o a pr ject l gitudinal partition within but shorter than the hollow interior of said container and stopping short of the forward end thereof, a combined spacer and coil form axially arranged between the partition and the forward end of the container, electronic means including a coil wound upon said form, and elements, between which coupling is desired to be restricted, said elements being arranged on opposite sides of said partition, an antenna cap adapted to be arranged over the exterior nose portion of t e. contai r d a omb ed s ppo ti and connector, stud secured to said oapyan d projecting inwardly throughthe nose of the container and into said form, said coil beingelectrically connected to said stud. 2 In combination with a radio proximity fu ze having oscillator, amplifier and thyratron circuit components, and a hollow projectile nose for housing the components, means for reenforcing said nose and for supporting said components in said projectile nose in electrically ,connected relation but partially electrically shielded from each other, said means including atransverse wall, longitudinally extending intersecting partitions connected to the wall, said wall and partitions defining assembly, a form on the assembly, and a ,coil on the form and electrically connected to certain of the'oscillatorcomponents, and an antenna cap on theexterior of the nose and electrically connected with the coil.

3. The combination recited in claim 2, wherein said means includes metallic sheathing for the p-artitiono for electrically shielding the oscillator, amplifier and thyrai tron circuit components from each other. I V

4. The combination recited in claim 2, wherein said means includes grommets in the partitions for facilitating electrical connection between the components'on opposite sides of said partitions. V r

5. In a missile having a hollow nose. containing a proximity fuse including oscillator, amplifier, and coil elements and having an antenna attached to the coil extending from the forward portion thereof, a transverse disk-like partition member, longitudinal partitions each fastened at one end to the transverse partition and extending radially from the axisof the transverse partition, said longitudinal partitions having their outer edges shaped to conform to the inner surface of the said hollownosefa cylindrical form having one end slotted and fitted over the other end of each of the longitudinal partitions, the partitions serving to separate and electrically shield the'oscillato'r and amplifier elements froinlone another and to reinforce the nose structure, the cylindrical form serving to suppbmhe-coil element.

6. A support for use in the hollow nose of a missile comprising a disk-like transverse partition, a plurality of longitudinal partitions each fastened at onefend to the transverse partitionand extending radially from the axis thereof, a cylindrical form having one end :slotted and'fitted over the other end of each of the longitudinal partitions, the longitudinal partitions having their outer edges shaped to conform to the inner surface of said nose.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Sweden "Feb. 24,1938 

